Totalizer aliner mechanism

ABSTRACT

AN ALINER MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVELY RELEASING A TOTALIZER ELEMENT FOR OPERATION WHILE DISABLING THE REMAINING TOTALIZER ELEMENTS. THE ALINER MECHANISM INCLUDES A NOTCHED MEMBER WHICH IS SLIDABLY MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN SEVERAL POSITIONS, EACH POSITION SELECTING ONLY ONE TOTALIZER ELEMENT FOR OPERATION, THE TOTALIZERS INCLUDING AN ADD-SUBSTRACT TOTALIZER ELEMENT.

Feb 16,v 1971 G. J. EBERHARDT v Y 3,564,592

` ToTALrzER ALINER n/rcmANIsMl Filed Jn. 1.5,l 1969 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GEORGE J. EBERHARDT HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 16', 1971 G, J, EBERHARDT 3,564,592

TOTALI ZER ALINER MECHANISM Filed Jan. 15, 1969 2 sheets-Sheena INVENTOR GEORGE J. EBERZI fZM/Q Hls vATToRNl-:wrs

United States Patent O 3,564,592 TOTALIZER ALINER MECHANISM George J. Eberhardt, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Filed lIan. 15, 1969, Ser. No. 791,329 Int. Cl. G06c 25/00, 29/00 U.S. Cl. 23S-130 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT U.S. Pat. No. 2,853,232, issued Sept. 23, 1958, on the application of Mayo A. Goodbar et al.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to an aliner mechanism used in conjunction with a plurality of totalizer elements which includes an add-subtract totalizer. The aliner mechanism normally engages each of the totalizer elements, thereby locking them in place, so as to prevent any accidental movement which would alter the numerical Value stored in the elements. When a totalizer element is to be adjusted during a machine operation, the aliner mechanism for the selected totalizer element is removed from a blocking position, thereby allowing a totalizer operation to occur IWhich will affect only the selected totalizer elements. Prior aliner mechanisms consisted of a separate aliner for each totalizer element and a mechanism for moving said aliner into and out of engagement with the totalizer element. This required a Very complex and bulky mechanism. Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide an aliner mechanism for a plurality of totalizer pinions which is simple in structure and in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an aliner mechanism which will operate with an add-subtract totalizer included in the totalizer elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An aliner mechanism for use with a plurality of totalizer elements which includes an add-subtract totalizer comprising a member having a number of notches located on an edge portion, said notched member being mounted for movement, parallel to said totalizer elements, to a plurality of predetermined positions, each position enabling only one totalizer element to be operative.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an oblique front view of the totalizer support assembly used in the cash register, showing the aliner mechanism of the present invention and its actuating mechanisms.

FIG. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1, showing the stationary pinion aliner engaging the totalizer elements.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the stationary totalizer pinion aliner disengaged from the totalizer pinions.

FIG. 4 is a partial detailed view of the totalizer assembly, showing the adjustable totalizer pinion aliner positioned so as to free the plus and minus pinions of the add-subtract totalizer for movement.

FIG. 5 is a partial detailer View of the totalizer assembly, showing the adjustable totalizer pinion aliner in a position prior to engagement with the counter frame.

FIG. 6 is a partial detailed view of the totalizer assembly, showing the adjustable totalizer pinion aliner in a position to release only the selective itemizer pinions for operation.

FIG. 7 is a partial detailed View of the totalizer assembly, showing the adjustable totalizer pinion aliner in a position to release only the group totalizer pinion for operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. l, there is shown an overall View of the totalizer assembly utilized in a cash register or accounting machine. Included in this assembly is a totalizer pinion shaft 20 rotatably supported by a pair of counter frames 21, 22. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 20 are seven sets of totalizer pinions, each set consisting of a subtract pinion 23 and an add pinion 24, which constitute an add-subtract totalizer; a selective itemizer pinion 25; and a group totalizer pinion 26 (FIGS. l, 4, 5, 6, and 7). There is one set of totalizer pinions for each amount bank in the cash register or accounting machine. Reference should be made to the previously cited U.S. patent, No. 2,853,232, for a complete disclosure of an add-subtract totalizer and its operation.

Secured between the counter frames 21, 22 is a shaft 27, which is slidably supported by a pair of counter plates 28, 30. Each of the plates 28, 30 contains a slot 31 (FIGS. l, 2, and 3), which is yoked over a collar 32, which in turn slidably supports the shaft 27. Each of the counter plates 28, 30 also contains a second slot 33, within which is positioned one end of a shaft 34. A lever arm 35 is rotatably mounted on each of the collars 32, and also on each end of the shaft 34. Secured to the shaft 34 are a pair of arms 36, 37, the other ends of which are pinned to a shaft 38 rotatably mounted within the framework of the machine.

Pinned to one end of the shaft 38 is an actuating arm 40, which is rotated as part of the totalizer-engaging operation. As shown in FIG. 1, mounted within a slot 41 located in each of the counter frames 21, 2.2 is one end of a main pinion aliner 42. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pinion aliner 42 is engaged by a finger portion 43 of the counter plate 28. As shown, the top edge of the pinion aliner 42 has a V-shaped groove 44, which is positioned to engage each of the totalizer pinions 23 to 26 inclusive mounted on the pinion shaft 20. When a totalizer-engaging operation is to occur, the actuating arm 40 is rocked clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1, thereby rocking the shaft 38 clockwise. This results in the shaft 34 being rotated clockwise about the shaft 38. As viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, this would be counter-clockwise. As the shaft 34 is rocked through the canted slot 33, located in the counter plates 28, 30, the totalizer assembly, including the shaft 20 and the counter frames 21, 22, moves upwardly, thereby removing the pinion aliner 42 from engagement with the totalizer pinions. This condition is shown in FIG. 3.

As is well known in the art, the totalizer assembly is shifted laterally under the control of the transaction keys located on the keyboard. Each transaction key controls the lateral movement of the totalizer assembly in such a manner that the totalizer pinions which are controlled by the depressed transaction keys are positioned adjacent to an actuating member in each of the amount banks, which then engages the totalizer pinion and rotates it according to the amount set up in the amount banks.

Associated with the totalizer assembly is a movable pinion aliner 45 (FIGS. 1 to 7 inclusive) slidably supported by the counter frames 21, 22. As may be seen in FIGS. 4 to 7 inclusive, the pinion aliner 45 contains a series of notches 46 so located on its edge as to form two different-width stop portions 47, 48. The bottom edge of the pinion aliner 45 contains a shoulder portion 50 (FIG. 4) and a finger extension 51, which is engaged by one end of a spring member 52. The other end of the spring 52 is secured to a plate -53 mounted on the shaft 27. The stop portions 47, 48 of the aliner 4S are positioned adjacent the totalizer pinions 23 to 26 inclusive of each amount bank, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

lOn a normal operation, whenever an amount is to be added into the subtract pinion 23, the totalizer assembly is shifted to a position as shown in FIG. 4, with the subtract pinion 23 in alinement with the amount actuator 54. In this condition, the aliner 45 is shifted to the right with relation to the totalizer line by the action of the spring 52 until a lower stop portion 55 of the aliner (FIG. 4) engages the counter frame 22. In this position, the Wide stop portion 47 of the aliner engages the selective itemizer pinion 25 and the group totalizer pinion 26, while the narrow stop portion 48 is positioned between the add pinion 24 and the substract pinion 23, thus allowing both pinions to be rotated by the amount actuator 54.

When the add pinion 24 is selected to be operated by the amount actuator 54 (FIG. 5), the totalizer assembly is shifted to the right from the position shown in FIG. 4. Included in the assembly are the totalizer shaft 20, the counter frames 21, 22, the aliner 45, the shaft 27, and the plates 53. Since the aliner 4S is carried by the assembly and thereby stays in the same position with relation to the totalizer pinions, the pinions 25 and 26 are still engaged by the wide portion 47 of the aliner, while the pinions 23 and 24 of the add-subtract totalizer are free for rotation. It will be seen from FIG. 5 that the lower shoulder por tion 50 of the aliner 45 is positioned adjacent to the plate 30. When the totalizer assembly is shifted to the right to aline the selective itemizer pinion 25 (FIG. 6-) with the amount actuator 54, the aliner 45 is stopped by the engagement of the plate 30 with the lower shoulder portion 50 of the aliner. This position of the aliner is held by the extension of the spring 52j due to the movement of the plate l53 to the right as part of the totalizer assembly movement. In this position, the stop portion 47 of the aliner engages the group totalizer pinions 26 and the subtract pinions 23 of the next amount bank. The stop portion 48 of the aliner engages the add pinions 24, thus freeing the selective itemizer pinion 25 for movement by the amount actuator 54.

When the group totalizer pinion 26 is to be alined with the amount actuator 54, the totalizer assembly is shifted farther to the right (FIG. 7). Since the aliner 45 is held in place by the plate 30 and the spring 52, the movement of the totalizer assembly results in the alinement of the stop portions 47, 48 with the totalizer pinion, thereby blocking the selective itemizer pinion 25 and the subtract pinion 23, as shown in FIG. 7. As disclosed fully in the above-cited `Goodbar et al. U.S. patent, the subtract pinion 23 is interconnected with the add pinion 24 in such a manner that the blocking of one pinion results in the blocking of the other. Thus the group totalizer pinion 26 is free to be operated by the amount actuator 54 while the other pinions are blocked from movement. It will thus be seen from this latter construction that the aliner mechanism 45 automatically blocks out the pinions except the selected pinion as a result of the movement of the totalizer assembly to aline the selected totalizer pinions with the amount actuators.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cash register or accounting machine having 'a plurality of totalizer elements including an add-subtract totalizer rotatably mounted on a movable support assembly, said support assembly being adapted for movement to a plurality of positions for selectively alining each totalizer element with an amount actuator, means for disabling the movement of all the totalizer elements not alined with the amount actuators, including (a) a member containing a plurality of notches positioned adjacent each of the totalizer elements, said notched member being slidably mounted on said support assembly and adapted for movement along said totalizer elements whereby only those totalizer elements alined with the notches on said notched mem- .ber are released for movement by the amount actuators;

(b) a first stop member on said support assembly;

(c) first stop means located on said notched member adjacent said first stop member;

(d) a support member mounted on said support assembly;

(e) resilient means mounted between said support member and said notched member for urging said iirst stop means into engagement with said first stop member, thereby positioning the notched member to release the add-subtract totalizer for movement by the amount actuator;

(f) a second stop member mounted adjacent said support assembly;

(g) and second stop means located on said notched member and positioned adjacent said second stop member for engaging said second stop member upon movement of said support assembly to a totalizeralining position, whereby those totalizer elements alined with notches in said notched member are released for movement by the amount actuators.

2. The disabling means of claim 1 in which said addsubtract totalizer includes a plus totalizer pinion and a minus totalizer pinion;

and said notched member includes a iirst stop portion and a second stop portion formed by said notches, said first stop portion being positioned between said plus and minus totalizer pinions, and said second stop portion being positioned adjacent the remaining totalizer pinions when the notched member is urged into engagement with said first stop member by said resilient means, whereby the add-subtract totalizer is released for movement by the amount actuator.

3. The disabling means of claim 2 in which said first and second stop means comprise iirst and second blocking surfaces respectively extending from a lower portion of said notched member, said iirst blocking surface being located on said notched member with respect to the location of said first stop portion, whereby, upon engagement of said first stop member by said irst blocking surface, said first stop portion is positioned between the plus and minus totalizer pinions, thereby releasing said totalizer pinions for operation.

4. The disabling means of claim 3 in which said second blocking surface is located on said notched member with respect to the location of said second stop portion whereby, upon movement of the totalizer assembly to a position alining any of said totalizer elements other than said addsubtract totalizer with said amount actuator, said second blocking surface will engage said second stop member to 6 position said notched member with respect to said totalizer 2,807,412 9/ 1957 Runde 23S-60.48 assembly, so that said second blocking surface is posi- 3,249,299 5/ 1966 Scha 235-130 tioned to release the alined totalizer pinion for operation.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner References Cited 5 S. A. WAL, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,555,154 9/1925 Poole 235 131 U-S-C1XR- 1,931,113 10/1933 Muller 235-130 23S-60 

